Variable height slide-out mechanism

ABSTRACT

An operating mechanism for extending a slide-out section of a vehicle includes a pair of rail supports secured to a vehicle frame and a pair of rail members connected to the slide-out section with one rail member slidably engaging each rail support. Each rail member is driven by engagement of a rotary member with a linear intermeshing member, such as dedicated rack and pinion arrangements. A shaft connects the rotary engagers so that movement of the rail members is synchronized using a single drive unit. A pair of rollers are mounted to each rail support, one roller on each side of the racks, to support the rack relative to the associated rotary engager.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/761,020, filed Jan. 20, 2004, issue fee paid, now U.S. Pat. No.6,805,391 which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/378,030, filed Feb. 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,249, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/564,663, filed May 3, 2000,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,896, which claims benefit to U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/132,397, filed May 4, 1999.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to vehicles having extendable sections, and moreparticularly to an improved operating mechanism for moving a slide-outsection between extended and retracted positions relative to thevehicle.

In order to increase the available interior space of recreationalvehicles or trailers, it is known to provide a slide-out section (suchas a bedroom) as part of the structure of the vehicle or trailer. Aslide-out section is a raised platform enclosed on all but one side.During transit, the slide-out section is retracted and stored in theinterior of the vehicle or trailer, with the exterior wall of theslide-out section approximately, flush with the exterior of the vehicleor trailer. To use the slide-out section after the vehicle is parked andleveled, it is slid outward from the vehicle to an extended position,thereby increasing the interior space of the vehicle.

The operating mechanism for moving the slide-out sections are typicallydevised to push the slide-out section away from the vehicle whenextending the slide-out section, and pulls the slide-out section towardsthe vehicle when retracting the slide-out section. The mechanism formoving the slide-out section relative to the vehicle is fixed to thevehicle body and can include one or more sliding rails attached to theslide-out section. Typically, these sliding rails slide within railsupports fixed to the vehicle frame. Multiple sliding rails aretypically utilized for wide slide-out sections. To conserve cost andspaces, typically the sliding rails are driven by a single drive unit.Thus, in mechanisms having multiple sliding rails, one rail is directlydriven by the drive unit and the other rail moves in response to slidingof the slide-out section to which it is connected. Due to friction or anobstruction, it is possible for either of the driven or free slidingrails to lag behind the other rail during extension and/or retraction.This can cause the room to become skewed with respect to the vehicle. Ifthis is not corrected, it can cause excessive wear, motor fatigue and/oran incomplete seal between the slide-out section and the vehicle whenfully extended or retracted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a height adjustable and multiple railsynchronized operating mechanism for moving a slide-out section of arecreational vehicle between retracted and extended positions.

In one aspect, the invention provides a mechanism for adjustably settingthe height of an extendable slide-out section of a vehicle. Themechanism includes a frame supporting the slide-out section relative tothe vehicle. The frame has two plates, a first plate is fixable to thevehicle and has at least one hole. The second plate is movable relativeto the first plate and has a plurality of vertically spaced holesalignable with the hole(s) in the first plate. A fastener can beinserted through the aligned holes in the two plates to fix the platesrelative to one another at one of a plurality of heights.

In preferred forms, the frame includes two spaced apart sides, each ofwhich includes first and second plates. Each first plate includes aplurality of spaced apart holes each of which is linearly alignable withone of the plurality of spaced apart holes in each of the second plates.A rail member is fixedly mounted to the slide-out section and a rack andpinion arrangement movably mounts the rail member to the frame. Thepinion is rotatably mounted between second plates of each side of theframe for engaging the rack of the rail member. A pair of rollers arerotatably mounted between the second plates of the frame to engage therail member, preferably along opposite sides of the rack. Ananti-friction member is disposed between the frame and the rail member.

Thus, one aspect of the invention provides for a vehicle slide-out roomwith a height adjustable frame. This mechanism is not limited to asingle specific dimension and thus can be employed in multipleapplications.

In another aspect, the invention provides an operating mechanism forextending a slide-out section of a vehicle. The operating mechanismincludes a frame supporting the slide-out section relative to thevehicle. A pair of height adjustable rail supports are mountable to theframe. Each rail support includes two sections movable relative to oneanother and fixable with respect to one another at a plurality ofheights. A pair of rails are connected to the slide-out section, and apair of rack and pinion arrangements movably mount the rails to the railsupports so that the rails can extend and retract relative to the railsupports. A shaft connects the pinions so as to synchronize movement ofthe rails with respect to the rail supports.

In preferred forms, the two sections of each rail support are first andsecond plates with a plurality of spaced apart and linearly alignableholes as described above. There are two pairs of rotatable rollers, eachpair engaging an associated one of the rail members, preferably one oneach side of the associated rack.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention provides a variableheight, multiple sliding rail slide-out mechanism in which the slidingrails are synchronized. The rails are synchronized using a shaft tocouple the pinions for each sliding rail. Synchronized movement of therails allows the slide-out section to extend and retract substantiallyuniformly and prevents it from becoming skewed with respect to thevehicle.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willappear from the following description. In the description, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in whichthere is shown by way of illustration preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle stationary floor having a slide-outsection incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the slide-out actuator of FIG. 1 in a lowerposition;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the slide-out actuator along line3—3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the slide-out actuator along line4—4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the slide-out actuator of FIG. 1 in an upperposition;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the slide-out actuator along line6—6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the slide-out actuator along line7—7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the slide-out actuator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an exploded end view of the slide-out actuator of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the synchronized slide-out actuators ofFIG. 1 in which the pinions are coupled by a shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an expandable bedroom slide-out attachedto a known trailer or recreational vehicle which provides distinctadvantages over the prior art as will be described and appreciatedhereafter. In the preferred embodiment, the trailer or recreationalvehicle (generally referred to as the vehicle) is equipped with aslide-out section used to provide additional interior room space.However, it should be understood that the invention can also apply toexpandable sections or compartments provided on other vehicles for usein construction, military, medical, education, mobile broadcast andother applications, to expand the inside volume of the vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a bedroom slide-out 10 is mounted to a vehiclestationary floor 11. The bedroom slide-out 10 has a movable platform 12,such as suitable for use as a bed base, mounted to each end of a railmember, in this case a U-shaped channel 14. The U-shaped channel 14 isslidably mounted in an actuator 16 which forcibly moves the platform 12between extended and retracted positions. The actuator 16 is rigidlymounted to the vehicle stationary floor 11, and extends and retracts themovable platform by forcibly sliding the U-shaped channel 14 with a rackand pinion drive. The moveable platform 12 is disposed above theactuator frame 18, and is mounted to both ends of the U-shaped channel14.

The channel 14 is slidably disposed in the rail support or actuatorframe 18, which simultaneously pushes and pulls the platform 12 toprovide a smooth transition between the extended and retractedpositions. The U-shaped channel 14 has a top surface 38, bottom surface32, and the two ends 33, 35. A rack 40 mounted to the U-channel bottomsurface 32 engages a pinion 42 rotatably mounted in the actuator 16 tourge the channel 14 in the desired direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide-out actuator 16 has a rail support offrame 18 mounted to the vehicle floor 11. Looking particularly at FIGS.3, 4, 6, and 7, the actuator frame 18 includes opposing sides 20 joinedby a top plate 22 and a bottom plate 24. Each side 20 is formed from apair of vertical slidably movable overlapping inner and outer plates 26,28. The top plate 22 is fastened to the inner side plates 26 by methodsknown in the art, such as welding to form a frame upper assembly 17which supports frame operating components, such as rollers 34, thepinion 42, a motor mount 50, a shaft 44, and the like. The bottom plate24 is similarly mounted to the outer side plates 28 to form a framelower assembly 19, and is mounted to the vehicle to secure the actuator16 to the vehicle floor 11.

The inner side plate 26 is substantially rectangular, and can be cutoutto reduce the plate material required. The outer side plate 28 issubstantially rectangular, and has upstanding legs 31. The outer plate28 is open between the legs 31 to provide room for the a shaft 44 andmount 50. Holes 30 are formed in the upstanding legs 31, and are insubstantially the same plane as holes 30 formed in the inner plate 26 toallow alignment between a hole 30 in each plate 26, 28.

The height of the frame 18 is adjusted by slidably moving theoverlapping plates 26, 28 to obtain the desired height. Each frame side20 has a lower position, shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 8, and an upperposition, with intermediate positions in between. The lower position isaccomplished by aligning the lowest hole in the outer overlapping plate28 on each side of the frame 18 with the lowest hole in thecorresponding inner overlapping plate 26, and then pinning the plates26, 28 together using a pin, such as a bolt 37. The upper position isaccomplished by aligning the highest hole in the lower overlapping plate28 on each side of the frame 18 with the lowest hole in the upperoverlapping plate 26, and then pinning the plates 26, 28 together.Intermediate positions, such as the position shown in FIGS. 5-7 and 9,are accomplished by aligning various combinations of the holes 30, andfastening the plates 26, 28 together.

The height of the actuator 16 is fixed by aligning at least one of theholes 30 in the inner plate 26 with a hole 30 in the outer plate 28, andthen fastening the plates 26, 28 together. Preferably, bolts or pins aresecured in at least one pair of aligned holes 30 to fix the height ofthe actuator 16. Advantageously, the height adjustable frame 18 providesan easily adaptable actuator 16 for a plurality of applications.

The frame upper assembly supports the channel 14 and the pinion 42 forurging the channel 14 between the extended and retracted positions. Inthe preferred embodiment, the frame upper assembly includes two pairs ofanti-friction members, preferably being two rollers 34 rotatably mountedto the plates 26 on opposing sides of the pinion 42. The rollers 34engage the U-channel bottom on opposing sides of the rack 40 to supportthe channel as it slides through the frame. Each pair of rollers 34 arerotatably mounted to the inner plates 26 of the upper frame assembly onopposing sides of the pinion 42.

The pinion 42 is mounted to a rotatable shaft 44, journalled to theplates 26, and driven by an electric motor (not shown). The electricmotor is mounted to mount 50, which is welded to plate 52. Plate 52 isbolted to plate 26, and shaft 44 extends through plate 26 and terminatesin an end 54 which is engageable by the drive means. The opposite end ofthe shaft 44 may extend through the plate 26 on the opposite side of theframe 18, and have end 56 to be engaged, for example, by a shaft 60 thatconnects to the pinion 62 of a second slide-out actuator 64, acting as asynchronization mechanism, having a rail support or frame 66, shaft 68,rollers 70, rail member or channel 72 and rack 74, spaced laterally fromthe unit 16 as illustrated in FIG. 10, so as to synchronize the twounits 16 and 64. Although an electric motor is disclosed, the shaft maybe driven by other methods known in the art, such as manually.

A low friction block 36, such as UHMW, is mounted to the frame top 22,and engages the U-channel top 38 to keep the pinion 42 engaged with therack 40. Advantageously, the block prevents the U-channel 14 frompivoting on one of the roller pairs 34 when the channel is substantiallyfully extended or retracted. Although a block is disclosed, othermethods for maintaining the engagement of the rack with the pinion canbe used, such as by using rollers, without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

While there has been shown and described what are at present consideredthe preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by theappended claims.

Therefore, various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated asbeing within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

1. A mechanism for adjustably setting the height of an extendableslide-out section of a vehicle, said mechanism comprising; a framesupporting the slide-out section relative to said vehicle; a first plateof the frame fixable to the vehicle and having at least one hole; and asecond plate of the frame movable relative to said first plate andhaving a plurality of vertically spaced holes alignable with said atleast one hole in said first plate so that a fastener can be insertedthrough said at least one hole and one of said plurality of verticallyspaced holes to fix said first plate relative to said second plate atone of a plurality of heights.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein theframe includes two spaced apart sides, each of said sides including oneof said first and second plates.
 3. The mechanism of claim 2, furtherincluding a rail member fixedly mounted to the slide-out section and arack and pinion arrangement movably mounting the rail member to theframe.
 4. The mechanism of claim 3, wherein said pinion is rotatablymounted between said second plates of said frame, said pinion engagingsaid rack of said rail member.
 5. The mechanism of claim 4, furtherincluding a pair of rollers rotatably mounted between said second platesof said frame engaging said rail member.
 6. The mechanism of claim 5,further including an anti-friction member disposed between said frameand said rail member.
 7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said firstplate includes a plurality of spaced apart holes each of which islinearly alignable with each of said plurality of spaced apart holes inthe second plate.
 8. An operating mechanism for extending a slide-outsection of a vehicle, said operating mechanism comprising; a framesupporting the slide-out section relative to said vehicle; a pair ofheight adjustable rail supports mountable to said frame, said railsupports including two sections movable relative to one another andfixable with respect to one another at any of a plurality of differentheights; a pair of rails connected to the slide-out section; a pair ofrack and pinion arrangements movably mounting said rails to said railsupports so that said rails can extend and retract relative to said railsupports; and a shaft connecting said pinions so as to synchronizemovement of said rails with respect to said rail supports.
 9. Themechanism of claim 8, wherein said two sections of each rail support arefirst and second plates, said first plate being fixable to the vehicleand having at least one hole, said second plate being movable relativeto said first plate and having a plurality of vertically spaced holesalignable with said at least one hole in said first plate so that afastener can be inserted through said at least one hole and one of saidplurality of vertically spaced holes to fix said first plate relative tosaid second plate at one of a plurality of heights.
 10. The mechanism ofclaim 9, wherein said first plate includes a plurality of spaced apartholes each of which is linearly alignable with each of said plurality ofspaced apart holes in said second plate.
 11. The mechanism of claim 10,further including two pairs of rotatable rollers, each pair of rollersengaging an associated one of said rails.
 12. The mechanism of claim 11,wherein the rollers define two roller surfaces, one on each side of theassociated rack.
 13. The mechanism of claim 10, wherein said pinions andracks have intermeshing teeth.